Apply

We welcome your application!

We invite applications for psychoanalytic training from the following professionals:

• Psychiatrists who are residents in approved psychiatric programs or practicing psychiatrists with approved medical and psychiatric training. Psychiatrist applicants must be licensed to practice in the State of New York.
• Psychologists who have completed a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology through a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. An applicant’s clinical background should include both inpatient and outpatient training, which may be acquired during internship in a teaching hospital and/or in postdoctoral training. Psychologist applicants must be licensed to practice in the State of New York.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

All applicants must have theoretical knowledge and clinical experience in the following areas:

• Psychopathology;
• Differential diagnosis;
• Differential (or alternative) therapeutics;
• Psychotherapeutic theory, technique, and experience;
• Knowledge of indications for psychopharmacologic treatment;
• Knowledge of physical conditions presenting as behavioral problems.

Finally, the applicant’s work record should reflect a continuing commitment to the development of additional clinical experience and skill.

Requirements for Matriculation

• Medical or psychological licensure in New York State, and in any other state in which patients may be seen;
• Malpractice insurance;
• Candidates are required to be in a four or five times per week psychoanalysis with an approved training analyst of the Columbia Psychoanalytic Center, the Psychoanalytic Association of New York (PANY) or the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (NYSPI) prior to or upon matriculation.
• Candidates must be in psychoanalysis for six months prior to beginning to treat their first patient in psychoanalysis.
• Certificate of immunization to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), tuberculosis testing (PPD), and meningococcus awareness.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for the academic year beginning in September should be submitted no later than May 1. 

We strongly encourage interested applicants to submit their materials early as admissions are rolling, and we welcome applications and inquiries at any point during the year. 

The heart of the application consists of three (or more) interviews with Columbia faculty members.  Our goal for this process is twofold: we want to become acquainted with you, to learn about your interests, experience and abilities, and we also hope to help you explore and further develop your interest in psychoanalysis through our discussions. 

To apply, please complete the application form linked here.

• Please pay your $150 application fee via our secure payment page. This fee is not refundable and is not credited toward tuition.
• On your application form you will list several professional references, whom we may contact.  In addition we would like to receive three letters of recommendation: one from each of the three supervisors of clinical work listed with your references.  Please ask these individuals to send their letters directly to psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu.
• After we have received your application and all of the reference letters, we will contact you to begin the interview process. Each applicant will have individual interviews with three members of our Admissions Committee. The interviews will offer an opportunity for applicants to learn about the Center through engaging in a discussion of one of their own psychotherapy cases, and in a two-session personal interview. Topics to be covered may include the applicant's academic and career path, personal relationships and history, past experience in psychotherapy or analysis, and psychological preparedness to take up the challenges of psychoanalytic work.
• Our application process can be lengthy because in addition to multiple interviews, our Admissions and Executive Committees must both review the application.  We attempt to process applications as quickly as we can.

For more information about the process of applying for psychoanalytic training in general or to follow up on the status of your application, please contact Jill Jacobson, M.D., Chair of the Admissions Committee.